realize wellness: Flourish ? Book Review: A Potentially Compelling ...

The most difficult thing about reading this book is that it is based on such a brilliant set of concepts for well-being in psychology. Mr. Seligman sets the book up superbly. The first two chapters were delightful and motivating. The book then begins to meander, gets lost in data analysis, defensive against critic?s complaints, and tells stories with minimal relevance. The real shame is that there are priceless pearls hidden throughout the book. For this reason, Flourish is only potentially compelling, leaving me wishing it was written differently.Starting with the positive. The first two chapters are splendid. I read them with fervor and excitement. I remember thinking, ?he?s actually measured how long positive psychology exercises extend beyond the point of extinction!? Seligman creatively names this the ?melting period? from which positive emotions seem to last beyond crystallization from practices. Brilliant!What follows is similarly motivating. Seligman discusses the scientific evidence for positive psychology for treating depression, as well as its implementation in schools and the military. Positive Psychology focuses on maximizing meaningful experiences, which approaches depression from the opposite end of the spectrum. Traditional approaches focus on minimizing symptoms. I was even more impressed by the military?s enthusiastic adoption of Positive Psychology?s Posttraumatic growth, utilizing resilience training to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder in soldiers. More kudos.Beyond this point, however, reading became stagnant. I found my inferiority response triggered when Seligman focused on training the best and brightest students in positive psychology. I cringed at anything hinting at elitism. I thought ?hm, if positive psychology is so helpful, why not share its benefits with anyone interested (and not just as a research participant)?? I questioned if I was flourishing enough to become a positive psychology student, let alone professional.With a sour taste in my mouth, the writing lost focus. I felt confused as, all the sudden Mr. Seligman begins defending himself against the claim that he supports torture. Really? I don?t care that other people have said this about him. I was lost in layers of data analysis and interpretation attempts. I longed for concise statements of the points Seligman appeared to be searching for as well. I get that the research is important, but just give me the bullet points. I don?t need the rest.And then, from nowhere another pearl hits me toward the end of the book. The ?Ethics Versus Values? section, that?s the kind of writing I remember from the beginning of the book! Story interlaced with ideas, interlaced with potential in a new undertaking. The book ended almost as strongly as it started, but did not do enough to redeem its confusing twists, turns, and interpretive tangents. I applaud the accomplishments of positive psychology for well-being, and I?m still looking for the fully compelling book that demonstrates them.

Source: http://realizewellness.blogspot.com/2011/05/flourish-book-review-potentially.html

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